Don’t allow drivers to engage in ‘evil race’ on roads: PM

She opens four-lane second Kanchpur Bridge, Bhulta flyover

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating the four-lane second Kanchpur Bridge on the Shitalakkhya River, four-lane flyover at Bhulta and railway overpass at Latifpur on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway through a videoconference from Ganobhaban in the capital on Saturday. photo : bss

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday instructed the authorities concerned not to allow the drivers to engage in 'evil race' on highways and roads as those often cause fatal accidents.She asked them to look into evil races by bus and truck drivers on highways and roads and check those. The Prime Minister gave these instructions while inaugurating the four-lane second Kanchpur Bridge on the Shitalakkhya River, four-lane flyover at Bhulta and a railway overpass at Latifpur on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway through videoconferencing from her official residence Ganobhaban in the capital.PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman conducted the function while PM's Political Adviser HT Imam was on the dais. Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi and JAICA's President Shinichi Kitoaka spoke on the occasion.The Prime Minister said proper training of drivers and helpers and allowing the drivers of buses and trucks to take rest at every two or three hour intervals are necessary alongside stopping unhealthy competitions among the vehicles to check the accidents. She said modern technologies, including cameras and speed-guns, have to be installed to prevent drivers from engaging in racing.Sheikh Hasina said sometimes exhausted drivers hand over the steering to their helpers which is very inappropriate. "If you (drivers) hand over the steering to your helpers then they must have the driving licence." She laid stress on providing food to drivers and helpers in due time. The Prime Minister said in the past, these issues were not addressed properly, but now those are being dealt with properly.Sheikh Hasina came down heavily on the commuters for showing reluctance to traffic rules. She wondered how people are still unwilling to follow traffic rules despite seeing so many road accidents. She wondered how people are still unwilling to follow traffic rules despite seeing so many road accidents. "People have serious lack of patience. I request all to abide by traffic rules while they are on roads." Mentioning that drivers are being held responsible initially for any type of accident, the Prime Minister said there should also be enquiries to find out the faults of victims. She asked the bus drivers to always think that they are not alone in the buses as there are many passengers with them."Accidents on roads have come down as we've taken many steps, but we've to take more steps," she said.Hasina asked the authorities concerned to be strict on allowing overweight trucks for plying bridges. "There should be weighing machine at every bridge point...the weight management should strictly be maintained.... otherwise the bridges won't last longer," she said.She also suggested the vehicles carrying non-perishable items to use ferries instead of bridges.